DAIRY CONTROL ACT.

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15359, 6 October 1923, Page 6

DAIRY CONTROL ACT.

MEETING AT CAMBRIDGE. A meeting' under the auspices ol the Cambridge branch, of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was' held in the Presbyterian Hall on Friday afternoon. The purpose of the meeting was to have the Act explained to farmers, and to advocate the voting in favour of it at the referendum to be taken next week. The.president of the Farmers’ Union (Mr R. Feisst) occupied the chair, and Mr Sinclair, representing the N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Coy., addressed the meeting. Mr Mervyn Wells, chairman of directors of the Cambridge Dairy Coy., and Mr Macmillan, M.P. for Tauranga, also spoke in favour of the scheme. There was a fair attendance of farmers present. Mr Sinclair, after reading the Act through, said his' answer to those who would ask why the Act should be brought into force was summed up under live headings:—(J.) To eliminate speculation in dairy produce; (2) to enable the dairy companies to link up with other companies in marketing their produce, and thus reduce the charges; (3) to regulate the distribution and prevent fluctuation in prices; (4) enable companies to open up new markets for thgir produce; (5) it will advertise New Zealand produce. Those who opposed the Act, said Mr Sinclair, were interested Arms. They pre naturally opposed to the scheme in their own interests, and are. spending money

to fight it. The middle men who buy our produce get 1 per cent to 1 per cent on everything that goes through their hands, and the scheme set out in the Bill would not suit them. In support of the scheme Mr Sinclair mentioned his company’s method of having their manager in London, who kept an eye on the markets and sold .or held over their butter to the best advantage, which avoided dumping butter on a dull market. This method would be adopted by the Board if the scheme became a reality. The Dairy Control Board would not allow 13 boats to arrive in London at one time, and make a slump in the butter market. This' was the case last year. New Markets.

Mr Sinclair spoke of the increased output of dairy produce in the world, and said we can't keep on sending butter to London. New markets will have to be opened up, and this would be the work of the Board. Advertising.

People who have just returned from London want to know the reason why they can't buy New Zealand butter in London. At least they couldn't get it labelled N.Z. butter. Mr Sinclair explained that there was a good deal of prejudice against butter done up in wrappers, owing to the fact that Danish butter is sold in bulk, and margarine is nicely done up in cartons. The consumers are naturally a little suspicious, , and like to see what they are buying. It would cost a lot of money to kill the prejudice. In conclusion Mr Sinclair said that the scheme would make cheaper shipping charges and a regular supply of boats for the produce. Mr Wells in his address mentioned the fact that Mr Masters, M.P., who was opposed to the Bill, had made statements in the House which Mr Wells quoted, from Hansard. Mr Wells held Mr Masters up as a very high authority on the matter, and although he was opposed to the actual Bill his statements would go to show that he had a similar scheme in his mind. Mr Macmillan, M.P. for Tauranga, spoke briefly in support of the Bill, and urged all those present to vote for it. Mr Bartlett, chairman of the Bruntwood Dairy Coy., spoke in favour of ,thc scheme, and hoped all his suppliers would vote in favour of the Bill. Mr J. S. Fisher moved that this meeting is in favour of the scheme, and will do all in its power to carry the referendum on the Bill. This was seconded by Mr Bartlet and carried. ' A hearty vote of thanks to the speakers closed the meeting.